Donation management

For donation of medical consumables, EMTs should have procedures in place compliant with national and international standards for donation of pharmaceuticals, equipment or their entire field facility.

EMTs should have written procedures on the donation of medicines and medical consumables to local health facilities. Caution should be exercise as unneeded donations may lead to over-stocking and expiry of donated products. The procedures should be flexible to the local or national donation policy but should not deviate from recognized medicines and medical equipment donation guidelines.63

1. EMTs should not donate medicines less than six months from expiry date and based on national donation policy that may specify the minimum acceptable remaining shelf-life for donated medicines.
2. All donated medicines or their generic equivalents should be approved for use in the recipient country and should appear on the national list of essential medicines or equivalent or in the national standard treatment guidelines.
3. Medicines must be compliant with international donation rules in terms of expiry dates, packaging and labelling.
4. Medicines and other medical consumables that may expire or damage during deployment must be destroyed in accordance with national protocols and WHO recommendations.

1. EMTs should donate equipment compatible with ministry of health procurement and maintenance systems that can be safely used by local staff.
2. EMTs are encouraged to donate technical items including the full field hospital if they can ensure support training, appropriate storage and subsequent use.